By Doug La Rocque
Ever since former Berlin Central School District teacher Dianne Mosher approached the town last spring about using the large green adjacent to the Town Hall for her retirement party, the Berlin Town Board has been considering letting outside organizations rent the green for various private functions.
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At June’s workshop meeting, the Board came up with rates for the rentals that were unveiled at the July 14 meeting. A commercial organization would be charged $500 per event, private individuals $100, and there would be no fee for non-profit groups. Each organization would be responsible for their own clean up and providing portable restrooms. Money generated from these rentals would be placed in the Town’s general fund.
It seems holidays are not the best time for Water District 2 which serves the village. Memorial Day weekend the pump on the main well failed, causing a decrease in water pressure for some homes. Water Commissioner Jim Winn said that pump has now been replaced, as well as the galvanized pipe from the pump up. He said the pump that failed was from 1987, so it certainly served its purpose. The 4th of July saw a leak occur on Green Hollow Road. Winn said that has also been repaired. He told the Board that the NYS Health Department has been back once again to test for PFOA levels in the District’s water. Winn did not yet have the results. Previous tests have shown the water district to be well below the levels established by the EPA to be considered unacceptable.
Concerns Over Participation Levels In The Summer Youth Program
The PFOA problem in Hoosick Falls was mentioned as a possible reason why only 5 youths have signed up so far for the summer swim program. The program has returned to the Hoosick pool this year after a year at Grafton Lakes State Park. Even though the pool has no PFOA in it and is perfectly safe for swimming, some meeting participants wondered out loud if concerns about PFOAs might be giving parents some concerns about sending their children to the pool. In the past, the swim program has had as many as 60 participants, and Youth Commissioner Tammy Osterhout said she would like to give it another week or so to see how many more children are signed up, before considering the viability of this year’s program. Osterhout was also disappointed with the turnout for the start of the Summer Youth Program. Only four children plus two counselors showed up for the start. Osterhout said she was forced to cancel the Arts and Crafts program, and the group spent time cleaning out the commission’s supplies and materials in the Town Hall basement. She said those who showed up will receive their Certificates of Participation and the counselors will receive their hourly pay.
Petersburgh Dump Problems Also Impact Berlin
Reports that PFOA has been found leaking into a nearby waterway that flows into the Hoosic River from the former Petersburgh Town Dump also brings legal concerns for the Town of Berlin. Town Supervisor Rob Jaeger said Berlin used to share a portion of that dump with Petersburgh, and after an executive session, decided to contract with the law firm of Young & Sommer to help protect the Town from any legal repercussions. The leachate from the landfill tested at 4200 parts per trillion, and the stream below it had 440 ppt of PFOA in it. Jaeger said the Albany based law firm is well versed in such matters.
The Board also voted to approve an increase in its insurance policy that deals with such issues as computer hacking. The increase in coverage comes at an annual cost of just more than $400. The Board also approved a change to the contract with the TRACS group that sees the Town contribute $850 dollars to send two youths to its annual summer seminar. The contract outlines the work the youths will perform around the town complex in return for the funding. TRACS is a group of Berlin High School youths that helps its peers deal with such issues as drugs, alcohol, smoking and mental health.
Reports
The number of bank foreclosed properties that have been sitting abandoned has been a problem in Berlin and the Taconic Valley. Codes Enforcement/Building Inspector Walt Yerton told the Board that recent legislation approved and signed into law by Governor Cuomo that forces these banks to take more responsibility for these properties, appears to be having some impact. Yerton said four such properties have been or are in the process of being sold, renovated and put back on the tax rolls. He also reported he issued another two building permits in the month of June.
The Transfer Station has had a problem with people trying to sneak in, showing up with out of date permits or no permits at all. The transfer station serves the residents of Berlin and Petersburgh only, and only with valid permits. Highway Superintendent Jim Winn said all is quiet, their summer roadwork and mowing programs are going smoothly. Town Clerk Anne Maxon reported she had collected $5,595 in state, county and local revenues last month, and another $908 in non-local revenues. She also said she has hired Dianne Mosher as her Deputy Clerk. The Board also expressed its thanks and appreciation for the hard work of the 4th of July Parade Committee. They described this year’s parade as one of the biggest and best they can remember.
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